Join Ami's Fight for a Brighter Future

Help Ami Improve Her Quality of Life

Welcome to Ami's page. Here you will find information about her life with spina bifida and how you can help improve her quality of life in a simple but effective way.

About Ami:

Ami was born with spina bifida myelomeningocele, a condition that caused her to lose movement and sensation in her legs. It has also led to other complications like hydrocephalus, orthopedic issues, and bladder and bowel control problems (including incontinence).

Recent Challenges:

Over the past year, she has spent about 80% of her time in the hospital and rehab for various reasons, some associated with her condition and others due to the strong medications she must take. On this past year, she suffered a hip fracture caused by osteoporosis, along with multiple urinary infections, an ulcer, and sepsis (blood infection). She has undergone blood transfusions twice and has been in intensive care both times.

Additionally, her mother lost her job for about two months due to spending so much time at the hospital with Ami, which caused significant financial stress. On top of that, her rehab facility left her without clear notification for one more week than her insurance covers, and now she is obligated to pay a $2,500 fee.

Ami has also been dealing with lymphedema for the past five years, but it wasn't until six months ago that she started proper treatment. Initially, her doctor thought she had fluid retention and prescribed diuretics, which didn't help. It wasn't until a nurse mentioned lymphedema that they realized what she truly had. After discussing with her doctor, she was referred to a therapist recommended by the nurse, and since starting the treatment, the difference has been enormous!

The problem is that in the hospital and rehab, there is no staff available to provide the lymphedema treatment, so her legs always end up swollen, and she has to wait until she gets home to continue her treatment, causing delays in her recovery. Additionally, when she goes to the hospital and they check her foot with a small ulcer, they often remove and discard her bandages, forcing her to buy new ones.

Despite the loneliness and all her health issues and limitations, Ami keeps smiling, dancing, creating choreographies, and most importantly, being a huge supporter of the Zumba® program for all instructors she can meet, even virtually.

Our Mission:

To celebrate her 36th birthday, which unfortunately we couldn’t organize on time, we are planning the celebration in July. This time, Diana Velazquez, with help from Fernanda Urtubia and Rick Pereira, is organizing the event. They are bringing together some amazing ZES, ZJs, and ZINs to celebrate this master class.

Support for ZINCON:

ZINCON is the only time Ami leaves her house; it is like her vacation. It’s what she dreams about all year long – four days of dancing and being close to her friends. We want to add support to help her attend.

How You Can Help:

Our goal this year is to raise $15,000 to cover all the medical supplies Ami has to pay for out of pocket, settle her rehab debt, and help make her ZINCON dream come true.

This Year's Goal: $15,000

These are the expenses we are considering covering for two years:

Short Stretch Compression Bandage: $506

Garments: $384

Cream: $624

Wipes: $400

Foam Rubber Pad and Bandage: $456

Pro 100% Synthetic: $2,000

Foley: $600

Paper Underpad: $576

Fabric Underpad: $400

Diapers: $1,920

ZINCON + Hotel + Food Expenses: $4,000

Rehab Debt: $2,500

With your help, we can make a significant difference in Ami's life. Thank you for your generosity and support!